FG as clock runs out beats Eagles

Georgia Southern's Dedrick Bynam intercepts a pass intended for Chattanooga's Emanuel Hassell before stepping out of bounds in the first quarter Saturday. (Photo by D. Patrick Harding/Chattanooga Times Free Press)

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Georgia Southern's ultimate goal for 2006 is to play at Finley Stadium. But it wasn't a very good place for the Eagles on Saturday night.

GSU players watched helplessly as Chattanooga's Esteban Lopez nailed a 38-yard field goal as time expired to lead the Mocs to a wild 27-26 victory over the 19th-ranked Eagles.

Firework exploded in the air and the delirious home fans stampeded the field for Chattanooga's first win in the series since 1996.

"The bottom line in this business is you have to get it done and we didn't get it done," said GSU coach Brian VanGorder, whose team hardly looks like a contender to play in the Division I-AA championship game here Dec. 15.

The Eagles (1-2, 0-1 Southern Conference) stumbled to 1-2 overall for the fourth time in the last five years.

This loss may have been one of their most heartbreaking. GSU kicker Jonathan Dudley missed two extra-point tries and Bo Galvin had his one attempt blocked.

But most of the Eagles' discouragement occurred on the Mocs' final drive. A fourth-down holding call and a pass interference call (the second penalty on safety Rico Zackery) helped put Chattanooga at Southern's 21 with 3 seconds to go.

The holding call, in particular, seemed to come from nowhere. No Mocs were anywhere near quarterback Matt Lopez's pass and GSU players began celebrating with 57 seconds left.

"I didn't see anything," Eagles linebacker John Mohring said. "That ball looked uncatchable to me. Just to give the game back. ... That wasn't a good call."

Southern gave away the lead three times. And when the Eagles had a victory in their grasp in the fourth quarter, they played conservatively, running five of their six plays into the line and leaving the game in the hands of the defense.

With 1:32 left, Chattanooga (2-2, 1-0 Southern Conference) started from its own 28. Eight plays later, Lopez stared at the goal posts.

"I just gave the glory to God," Esteban Lopez said. "Tonight, we were better."

Lopez's kick ruined wide receiver's Raja Andrews's night. The converted slotback caught eight passes, just one off the school record of nine held by Robert Baker in 1984.

GSU quarterback Travis Clark threw for 208 yards - tied for 14th best in the school's single-season records and the most passing yards by an Eagle quarterback since Greg Hill threw for 226 against Wofford in 1998.

Jayson Foster had 83 of total offense, including a leaping catch and run to complete a 34-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

The Eagles began the game as if they were playing the old Chattanooga Mocs. Since 1996, Southern had won all nine meetings with the Mocs by an average of 33 points.

Saturday, three of the first five GSU plays gained 18 or more yards. A reverse to Foster on the opening play from scrimmage went for 34 yards.

Nine plays later, Covington dove in from the 1 to give the Eagles a 6-0 lead.

It was an impressive 84-yard drive when everything went right for Southern. Twice, Clark completed third-down passes to keep the march alive, and two other completions picked up the yardage to overcome a holding call.

The Eagles' defense also got off to a good start. Cornerback Brandon Jackson jumped in front of Michael Gilmore's out pattern for an interception at the GSU 45.

A dozen plays later, Covington dove in again from the 1 for a 12-0 advantage.

Chattanooga turned the ball over on its next possession. Safety Dedrick Bynam, who received his first career start, intercepted Antonio Miller's pass at the GSU 38.

Southern drove to the Chattanooga 40 before punting. After the game's first five possessions, the Eagles held a 166-17 advantage in total yards.

But the game turned on the Mocs' final drive of the half. Quarterback Matt Lopez went 5-for-5 for 64 yards to lead a surprising seven-play, 85-yard touchdown march after Chattanooga had just four first downs during four pervious possessions.

Mocs coach Rodney Allison couldn't put the win in perspective. Last year, his team lost to GSU 48-10.

"It's probably going to be (one of the school's greatest wins), if we continue to win, but right now to beat a program that is established with the tradition and quality of Georgia Southern, it is really special for this program, this city and this university and me personally," Allison said.